Dishon Chapter 3

For the Love of Money
IN THE TENTH YEAR OF RECAB, KING OF DISHON
Recab sighed with relief as he looked at the letter. "Calet accepted" he said. "We're safe for a while." Tomaz flew a couple of loops in joy, while Dosut smiled. "Assemble the people this afternoon" Recab continued. "I'm going to have to tell them about the danger we are in."

"Actually, most of them already know" commented Tomaz.

"I'm not surprised" said Recab sitting down. "But I have to officially tell them anyway."

Dosut nodded and left. Tomaz flew to the king's shoulder. "How do you think Calet will do?" he asked.

Recab picked up a broken piece of pottery that had been lying next to his chair and started toying with it. "Oh they'll buy us time. That's about it."

Tomaz nodded. "Marram will beat them as if they were dogs, but when they get to us, we will be crushed like beetles." Recab let the piece of pottery slowly slide from one hand to the other as he grunted his agreement.

A cool wind flowed in from one of the windows. Tomaz turned to look outside, and saw a hot summer day. "I'll see you later" he called as he flew off. Tomaz went to Jolk's Tavern. In it he found his best friend, Ishod. Jolk's Tavern was where everyone visited. Tomaz saw his other friends: Nolli, who loves alcohol, Mazus, who would always run during a battle, Gotaz, the quiet one, and many others. Tomaz landed on a table, at which Ishod and Mazus were seated.

"So what's new" asked Ishod, not looking up from the card game on the table.

"Dosut's announcing a public meeting today" Tomaz answered.

"Yeah, and we now what it is about too" Mazus remarked making his hands into two fists and putting them together, the symbol for Marram.

"I figured you would" said Tomaz.

Mazus slowly laid down a card, then looked up at Ishod grinning. "Don't you ever get tired of winning?" asked Ishod.

"How about another game?" Mazus said as he shuffled the cards.
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Azom looked at his generals. His face was full of anger. "Calet what!?" He hurled one of his dishes, which he actually cared very little for, against the wall.

"D-Dishon bribed them sir" the general stammered nervously. "Shall we forget about Dishon for a while and conquer Calet instead?"

Azom clawed at the air with his scaly hands. "Punizh Calet for thiz" he screamed. "Punizh them zo that they will be zorry they ever looked at the letter Dizhon zent them."

The general nodded and started leaving. "And then" Azom called after him, "deztroy Dizhon zo that not one ztone remainz in place.
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"Where are you going Dad?"

Shallum turned around to see Seled, his eight year old son, standing behind him. "I'm going to battle son," he answered.

Seled suddenly looked concerned. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"I'm going to be alright" Shallum said, feeling a pain of guilt for thinking of his wallet before his son. "It will be an easy battle." He tried to convince himself the words were true, but deep down he knew they weren't.

His son saw right through him. "Dad don't take the money" he pleaded.

Shallum new it was useless to keep up the pretense. "We need the money" he said. "Calet is not as great as it once was, and we need to build forts, repair roads, and all that kind of stuff." Shallum strapped on his helmet and walked out the door. His son hurried after him.

Perez meet him at the door. "The battle plan is finished my lord" he said, gesturing towards a table on which lay a rolled up piece of paper. Shallum nodded, and Perez unfolded it. "I'll have Polad lead an attack from the left." Perez indicated with his finger where the soldiers would be. "And Miktesh from the right. Then you, my king, will lead the main army right in the middle. Between you and Polad, I have your trusted general Dabine leading a small army. Likewise between you and Miktesh, I have stationed Hikol." Perez then pointed out several different points in his strategy. The king nodded from time to time, understanding very little of it. Finally, when Perez finished, the king double checked things.

"All I have to do is lead the middle army?" he asked. Perez nodded and rolled up the plans. "I can handle that," Shallum said as he handed the plans to Perez.

Polad came running to the king, his right hand man Dabine close behind him. "My lord" said Polad kneeling, "I beg you to reconsider. Marram is ready to destroy us. Rumor has it that Azom himself will command the army."

"The rumor is false. Our spies tell us otherwise" Perez informed. "However Polad is right, we must not show an act of aggression against Marram. They could conquer us."

"There is to be no more discussion" Shallum said angrily. "Polad! Dabine! Get your troops ready! Now!" Both men scurried off.

Seled looked at his father with tears in his eyes. "Dad don't go!" he pleaded. "Something terrible is going to happen. I know it!"

"Oh cheer up" Shallum said. "I've been to lots of battles before and nothing ever happened. I'll be alright."

Seled nodded, but did not look convinced. Perez gently pushed the boy in the direction of the door leading outside. "You better go and play. Your father and I have lots to work on."

Seled slowly walked away. The king watched him until Perez tapped him on the shoulder. "We must hurry," he said. "There is much to be done."